Integrating current and historical water chemistry data with long-term piezometric records to develop a regional-scale conceptual flow model: Las Salinas spring, Medina del Campo, Spain

Study region: Old Las Salinas spring in Medina del Campo, Duero river basin, central Spain. Study focus: Medina del Campo groundwater body (MCGWB) is a multilayer semiconfined aquifer subject to intensive pumping since the 1970’s, where the current existence of spas where there used to be traditional baths could confirm the existence of deep groundwater flow paths. The old spring of Las Salinas (OSLS) is a saline anomaly in an aquifer with predominance of CaCO3H waters whose occurrence has not yet been formally explained. Long-term geological, geophysical, hydrogeological and hydrochemical records were integrated and complemented with field work to clarify its existence. New hydrological insights for the region: Outcomes led to the conclusion that the hydrochemistry of the Olmedo and Palacio de las Salinas salt baths is associated with the existence of a major threshold in the impervious basement of the aquifer, which intercepted deep regional groundwater flow and caused upwelling to the surface under unperturbed conditions. These results allow for the development of a conceptual flow model at the regional scale that explains the changes in natural water chemistry that have been identified in recent decades

Preliminary Hydrogeological Investigations for Sustainable Development in the Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark (NW Spain)

Congreso realizado en Málaga en junio de 2022.[EN] Karst aquifers and, especially, their caves and springs, are singular sites of the geoheritage due to their scientific, touristic and use (water resources) values. Besides, they are recognized as habitats of special protection by the Habitat Directive (92/43/CEE) and would be used for sustainable development in UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp). However, their management continues to be a challenge at the present day since karst aquifers and their associated springs and caves are vulnerable environments used by many actors and affected by land uses and changes in surface hydrology and groundwater. Our work aims to implement of a suitable management of aquifers and springs in the Courel Mountains UGGp based on hydrogeological studies. The studies include mainly the characterization of aquifers’ functioning, the elaboration of the spring inventory, physicochemical analyses and geoconservation actions.This work is funded by the Courel Mountains UGGp and the project IGCP-730 Hydrogeological significance of Mediterranean geoparks, and supported by the International Geosciences Program of UNESCO.Peer reviewe

Current international projects in the Duero and Miño-Sil basins

[EN] This paper summarizes the research work that is being carried out within the framework of three international projects with a lifetime between 2022 and 2026: (1) LIFE-IP-Duero; (2) Supporting stakeholders for adaptive, resilience and sustainable water management; (3) IGCP- 730. (1) and (2) are developed in the Duero river basin and are funded by the European Commission meanwhile (3) is being developed in the Duero and Miño-Sil basins and is funded by the International Geosciences Programme (IGCP) of UNESCO.Peer reviewe